Chapter 1, The Son-in-law of the Su Family

Someone once stood at the pinnacle of the pyramid, the cheapest of countless jealousies and envies, having traversed this path crowded by thousands, yet unable to escape the lonely eternal rest beneath the tombstone - finale of "Life on the Edge"

The Su family is one of the renowned wealthy merchants in Jiangning. Currently, the head of the Su family, Su Boyong, has no sons, only a daughter named Su Tan'er. He has yet to meet his wife, who, it is said, was unable to attend their wedding due to a problem with a batch of fabric from the Su family. Su Tan'er went to resolve the issue, which clearly indicates her disapproval of the marriage, effectively amounting to a runaway bride.

This woman is beautiful, exuding the essence of a delicate girl from the water towns of Jiangnan. Although her recent actions reveal an inner strength, she has perfectly blended this bookish, elegant aura into her speech and demeanor. From a purely objective and professional perspective, Ning Yi cannot help but feel a degree of admiration. However, when this demeanor is directed at him, he finds it somewhat amusing.

This hand has also changed, my own hand... it no longer feels like my own

Before long, when Chan'er entered the room, Xing'er was busily arranging the small items that had been moved for the purpose of decorating the new room according to the young lady's instructions. Su Tan'er was wiping her face with a towel. As soon as she moved the towel away, Xiao Chan quickly walked over, took the towel, and placed it back in the basin: "Miss."

In recent days, he has pretended to be somewhat dazed as if struck by a brick, and has met many members of the Su family, including Su Taigong once. The situation is complex, but he could see through it at a glance. Su Taigong is in good health and is currently the true power holder of the Su family. It is said that the third generation is judged by their sustenance, the fourth by their insight, and the fifth by their literary talent. Now, the Su family, with Su Tan'er and her several brothers, can be considered wealthy to the fifth generation, yet the situation is clearly mixed. The most promising and commercially talented among them is, surprisingly, Su Tan'er, who is a daughter.

Imagining this action, the three individuals, master and servants, were left with puzzled expressions in the room. Subsequently, Su Tan'er shook her head and said, "Exercising... let him be, is there anything else?"

As for himself, that is to say, Ning Yi, it is said that his grandfather's generation had a very close relationship with the current Su family's patriarch. They had agreed on a betrothal, but who would have known that all the children born were male. Thus, the betrothal agreement was passed down, but Ning Yi's family fell into decline due to an accident. By the time it reached Ning Yi, both of his parents had passed away. Although he had studied some books and could be considered a scholar, his actual talents were likely minimal. He was simply an honest person, and was chosen by the Su patriarch to be a son-in-law. Whether Ning Yi was willing at the beginning or was forced into it is something that cannot be traced back now. However, it seems that many people were unwilling regarding his marriage into the family. On the day of the wedding, the bride ran away, yet the wedding was still required to proceed. Then, it is said that a wealthy young man, who was also interested in Su Tan'er, secretly struck him on the head with a brick, causing him to fall into a coma for several days before he finally woke up.

At that moment, he was in a bad mood and had little interest in entangling himself with these people. When the beautiful girl walked over, he glanced at her and simply pointed with his finger. Once a powerful figure who had single-handedly established such a vast financial empire, when he truly displayed that aura, just a glance and a gesture were enough to make the maidservant, dressed as she was, shiver and stand still, stammering, "Young Master, you are awake..." Once a powerful figure who had single-handedly established such a vast financial empire, when he truly displayed that aura, just a glance and a gesture were enough to make the maidservant, dressed as she was, shiver and stand still, stammering, "Young Master, you are awake..."

He woke up from a state of confusion to see a white mosquito net, a dull pain lingering in his head. Uncertain of the environment he was in, he closed his eyes and thought for a long time before letting out a faint sigh

Sometimes, one envisions the future as exceedingly beautiful, yet in the end, one must accept fate, especially women, and even more so. She is already much better than the average woman in this regard, for the time being...

As for this world, he is currently still somewhat unclear about it

If those influential figures, such as the elder brothers, were a bit more formidable, if Su Tan'er were not the daughter of the main family, if Su Tan'er did not possess the talent and inclination for business, perhaps the situation would be different. However, at present, the patriarch of the Su family clearly regards Su Tan'er as a successor to be cultivated. The reason for choosing a son-in-law like myself may partly stem from some connections of the previous generation, but primarily, it is likely because he sees that Ning Yi was honest enough in the past, making it easy for others to keep him in check. The patriarch of the Su family clearly regards Su Tan'er as a successor to be cultivated. The reason for choosing a son-in-law like myself may partly stem from some connections of the previous generation, but primarily, it is likely because he sees that Ning Yi was honest enough in the past, making it easy for others to keep him in check.

Well, the young master's injury has healed, but he seems to be unfamiliar with many things. The doctor said it might be because of the head injury, causing him to forget some matters

Tang Mingyuan, what are you up to? He was once one of the most economically powerful individuals in the world. Being able to rise from nothing to that level, he certainly would not be easily defeated by minor doubts. With the support of modern technology, it seems that any possibility exists. Has he changed his body, undergone extensive and thorough plastic surgery? What is the necessity? What is the purpose? Is it to make him acknowledge that he is another person, and then no longer compete with him? This guy has always been indecisive; it is not impossible for him to do such things to save his own life. But why arrange such a room?

Forgot something

This courtyard consists of two small buildings, and the new house across the way on the second floor, adorned with large red characters of joy, is likely Su Tan'er’s original boudoir. Since waking up, Ning Yi has been residing in the other building and has never gone over there. At this moment, after Su Tan'er finished speaking, she performed a curtsy and returned to her room with her maid. Ning Yi also smiled and waved his hand, as a form of farewell. He understood in his heart that if he were to live here in the future, this arrangement would likely persist for a considerable period.

It is also for this reason that the status of this son-in-law has naturally displeased the other families. These individuals had previously been eager to introduce suitors to Su Tan'er, hoping that a wealthy young man would marry her, thus making her a person of no consequence to the family. Who would have thought that Old Master Su would seize upon a betrothal agreement and forcibly bring in a son-in-law? He naturally became a thorn in the side of others. The brick that struck him that night—whether it was thrown by someone else remains a matter of speculation.

Jiangning, during the Song Dynasty, was the name given to Nanjing, but this is not the Song Dynasty. The most perplexing issue for him these days has been historical questions. The historical records he has encountered seem to have discrepancies with the future world. The current dynasty is called Wu, similar to the Northern Song, which established its capital in Bianliang. Some historical details appear to have begun changing around the Sui Dynasty, and by the Tang Dynasty, there were already significant discrepancies. After the Tang Dynasty, the chaos of warlords ensued, resembling the pattern of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, followed by Wu, which saw the emergence of some notable figures and the transmission of poetry, while some were lost. For instance, Li Bai, who wrote some excellent poems and was referred to as the Immortal of Poetry, unfortunately died young in a sword duel in Chang'an. Du Fu became an official but was executed by the emperor for being too pedantic and mishandling affairs—this was a detail he had managed to uncover, which was only briefly noted in the historical records.

... ...

Thinking this way, one cannot help but feel a sense of wonder

There is nothing else to report. The son-in-law has also met with the elder master, the master, the eldest young master, and the second young master in the past few days, and they all got along very well... Well, the son-in-law is very amiable towards everyone, except... By the way...

Recalling the earlier meeting and the few words exchanged, it seems there was some discrepancy compared to the person I had seen before. I approached him, took his hand, and spoke to him, expecting he would be at a loss and embarrassed for a moment. However, to my surprise, he came over with an air of nonchalance.

While pondering these matters, a noisy sound suddenly erupted from the courtyard outside. Today was a festive occasion, and he had just come from the front not long ago. At this moment, he wondered what had happened again. Before long, the maid Xiaochan, whom he had first encountered upon his rebirth, came running up, her round face flushed with excitement: "Young Master, Young Master, the Miss is back, the Miss is back"

Chan'er was unsure if it was just her imagination, but on the day the young master had just awakened and walked out of the room, his gaze was quite intimidating... No, it wasn't exactly intimidating; it was just very... very... The young maid tilted her head, trying to think of an adjective, "very dignified, similar to the master... but perhaps not quite the same. However, when he merely glanced at Chan'er, she felt too afraid to even move. Perhaps... perhaps Chan'er had misjudged..."

The covert battles and intrigues within the shopping mall consumed his entire life, seemingly dedicated to these matters. Even after establishing a vast business empire, he remained wary of internal strife. Ultimately, he was outmaneuvered by his own brother and eliminated. Now, reflecting on these events brings a sense of amusement; I truly wish to distance myself from such trivialities, especially of this petty nature.

The eighteen-year-old newlywed girl stood by the window for a while, untied the hairbands that were tangled in her hair, glanced at the man sitting across the building watching the fireworks, let out a slight sigh, and then closed the window: "Xing'er, come in for a moment; Juan'er, go and ask Chan'er to come over."

His wife would always return, which was something that had long been anticipated. It was impossible for her to truly elope and never come back just because he had married into her family. This blank period of ten days to half a month was likely a warning for her to clarify the situation. This young lady had a strong personality, and he had nothing to complain about. Xiao Chan came over to call him and then pulled him down the path from the front courtyard to the back yard. In the distance, he saw a group of people approaching, with a woman in a red cloak standing out prominently in the crowd; it must be her.

Running

Along the way, there were several seemingly affectionate yet distanced greetings. Ning Yi naturally responded lightly to a few of them. Upon returning to the courtyard, when there were no outsiders around, Su Tan'er finally let go of his hand: "Husband, your injuries have not yet healed. Please take good rest these few days. If there is anything, just instruct Chan'er..."

"Aunt, son-in-law, let me help you..." The maid quickly began to help him put on the robe, her two eyes curiously examining him. "Tsk, not bad at acting..." While dressing him, the maid also shouted downwards: "The son-in-law has woken up, the son-in-law has woken up..." As a result, more people began to come over from various courtyards.

With a bandage wrapped around his head and a lingering pain, he pushed open the door, and bright sunlight streamed in, prompting him to instinctively raise his hand to shield his eyes. This was on the second floor of a wooden building. Looking out from the doorway, below him lay a series of neatly arranged courtyards and gardens, various buildings scattered about, with Suzhou and Hangzhou style garden architecture, ponds, and rocks, all magnificently unfolding before him.

Accept your fate

How has the son-in-law been these past few days

In the end ... ... I was still stopped ... ...

He walked past the maid, took a few steps, then turned back lazily to pick up the robe that the maid seemed to be holding for him. After unfolding it, he appeared somewhat frustrated: "How do you wear this?" Considering that the maid's speech seemed to be in a dialect from the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions, he switched to the dialect: "How do you wear this?"

What is this all about? Quantum mechanics? Multiverse?

Recalling matters from a past life

The old-fashioned house, the antique bed, the tables and stools, although made of good materials and craftsmanship, the entire room is filled with retro furnishings. There are also some impressive porcelain pieces, but there is no sign of any modern electronic devices. What are you doing, Tang Mingyuan? ... Remembering that bespectacled guy, I silently cursed and then ...

Dressed in a robe, he parted some of the approaching maidservants and walked through the courtyard, not looking back as he headed outside

At this moment, several brothers from the second and third households, as well as maids and stewards from the Su family, surrounded the woman. The leading woman was tall and graceful, with an oval face and long black hair tied back with a ribbon, cascading down to her waist. While smiling and conversing with others, she handed a bright red cloak to a servant beside her. As she approached, she first cast a brief, scrutinizing glance at Ning Yi and Xiao Chan, and then slightly bowed, saying: "Husband"

He has a general understanding of his current identity; his name is Ning Yi, courtesy name Li Heng. He is currently a son-in-law of the wealthy Su family in Jiangning. This identity is somewhat disreputable, but since it is the case, there is no way around it. Even though he is a son-in-law, the circumstances surrounding this situation appear to be quite complex in the past few days

On the other side, Su Tan'er returned to her boudoir

He took a deep breath and then exhaled. What a grand gesture! Tang Mingyuan, how much did this cost you? He glanced a few times, turned, and walked away, when suddenly a voice called out: "Young master, you..." Oh, just an extra.

So, are you currently under house arrest?

One by one, Ning Yi watched with great interest as the woman beside him conversed with these people, managing everything with meticulous care. Almost effortlessly, she made perfect insinuations through casual remarks, prompting them to attend to their own matters. Only then did she turn to Ning Yi with a harmonious expression and say, "Husband, let us return." Accompanied by three maidservants, she walked with Ning Yi towards the original courtyard.

The son-in-law has been running these past few days

It is still uncertain whether this is the first meeting between the two, but Su Tan'er’s expression was remarkably natural, as if nothing had happened on her wedding day when she left. She approached Ning Yi as if they were an old married couple, naturally linking her arm with his, and then turned to the others with a smile: "Second Brother, the white tiger skin you have always wanted, Tan'er has managed to find it for you this time, so you can no longer blame me..."

There are no tall buildings, and no modern features can be seen

Well, he went out early in the morning before dawn, jogging slowly by the Qinhuai River, claiming it was for exercise. Also, in his room, he was doing strange things..." Xiaochan pushed her hands forward and then pulled them back, her little face full of confusion. "Lying on the ground, he pushed himself up like this, and he also said it was for exercise. I find it very strange.

Lifting the blanket and sitting up, it seemed I had been unconscious for a long time, and my body was still unable to coordinate well. I looked down and noticed that the style of my clothes was quite strange, and the fabric was of poor quality. It was only when I stood up on the floor of the room that I discovered even more things that were out of sync.

This is a room that cannot be considered particularly unconventional; at least in relation to the owner's behavior and personality, it is an utterly normal young girl's boudoir from any perspective. The decorations are in vibrant reds and greens, adorned with various trinkets. Aside from a slight lack of needlework and an abundance of books—these items are generally within the realm of normalcy.

He glanced at his two pale hands, and after a moment, sat down in front of the table and chairs, unfastening his clothes. This body... does not have any bullet holes? What a joke. He clearly remembered so many bullets being fired at him, from all directions. Could it be that he had undergone plastic surgery? No, this body is not even his own; all the characteristics and features are showing this indication, especially after he looked into the bronze mirror and saw the reflection in it, which further confirmed this point.

Ten days later, he sat in the corridor watching the fireworks in the sky outside, letting out a sigh

Clarify the matters that need clarification, save some money, and then leave. He thought to himself, although he currently had no concept of becoming a son-in-law and did not care much about such titles, being constantly watched by others was somewhat unpleasant.

The Wu Dynasty was similar to the Song Dynasty, quite prosperous, but it might also be conquered by a minority ethnic group like the Song Dynasty. The well-known history has become completely chaotic, and he is too lazy to think about it. What he needs to do now is to restrain everything, ... After becoming familiar with the world, he will leave this large family, and then ... . ... Engage in some small business and travel around a bit; as for more matters, he will address them when they arise.

What?

"Hmm, that is what the doctor said." Xiao Chan nodded and added, "The young master has been wandering around these days. I had someone follow him, and it seems he is not looking for anyone, just walking around the city and its outskirts, as if... he has truly forgotten many things."

Not dead

Eventually, he walked out, and in the vast city, he could find no traces of modernity, no buildings, no people. The mountains, rivers, and lakes outside all told him that this was ancient times; it could not be otherwise. Even if he were to exhaust the entire power of his financial empire, he could not create such a seamless world. However, with so many actors, it was impossible to achieve such perfection. This was not Truman's world, and he was not Truman, who had been confined to a film set since birth. Even if he were to exhaust the entire power of his financial empire, he could not create such a seamless world. However, with so many actors, it was impossible to achieve such perfection. This was not Truman's world, and he was not Truman, who had been confined to a film set since birth.

The little girl's voice grew softer and softer. Su Tan'er thought for a moment and then smiled. When her grandfather mentioned letting Ning Yi marry into the family, she had actually gone to see this person and even sent someone to investigate him. The reason her grandfather chose him was, on one hand, due to the previous generation's betrothal agreement, and on the other hand, because this person's character was indeed weak, making it easy for her to dominate him. His family was destitute; although he was a scholar, he had not studied much and lacked even the typical arrogance of a scholar, so there was no authority to speak of. It was probably an illusion; he had just been beaten and was just getting up, which had merely frightened Xiao Chan.

It's quite good. I won't bother you, and you shouldn't trouble me either. If I can remain undisturbed and not get involved in the intrigues of this family, it doesn't matter whether I come or go. Life in ancient times is rather leisurely

Let it be, is there anything else?

"That’s fine, he probably understands in his heart. This is sufficient, as long as he behaves himself. The master has already agreed, so I can proceed like this... Let it be. " She sighed, "But you all must show some respect to the son-in-law. As for my relationship with him, you are not allowed to gossip about it outside. No matter what, as long as he hasn’t done anything to harm the Su family, he is still my husband, do you understand?"